News In Brief

December 17, 1984

London

Gorbachev in London says USSR ready to ban all arms

Mikhail S. Gorbachev, widely believed to be second man in the Kremlin hierarchy, said in London on Saturday that the Soviet Union stood ready to ''eventually ban'' all types of armaments and would never ''start any new round in the arms race.''

Mr. Gorbachev, in Britain for a week during which he will confer with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, said upon his arrival Saturday that he hoped his visit would contribute ''to the betterment of the international situation.''